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The air traffic control system (ATC) in the U.S. still uses point to point, ground based radar system called Host, despite the recent developments of Global Positioning System (GPS). While Host can still carry out its duties aiding aircraft to their destinations as it’s been doing for the past 40 years, there’s surely still room for improvement.

Air traffic means a lot to travellers. U.S. takeoffs and landings combined from all airline companies number to 140 million a year. The number is predicted to continue to rise. With the growing number of flights going in or out or about the U.S., don’t you think it’s dire time for a system change?

A not-for profit run ATC

At the rate the ATC system’s going, transporting a billion people annually will soon be a public concern. Aviation in the U.S. is one of the busiest on the planet. Every year, you hear about flight delays and other inefficiencies that cost the country roughly $30 billion. Attempts to modernize this technology have been ineffective to date.

With the inefficiencies of the current ATC system, there’s a need to sit down and plan the future of the United States’ transport system. Bill Shusher, chairman of the House Transportation Committee recognized the need to reconstruct the ATC and is planning to put forth legislative text to do this. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has also given significant consideration to this plan.

The idea is to privatize the ATC and leave it in the hands of not-for-profit corporations. This will be authorized by the individual states and would be largely autonomous. This idea has been considered for quite some time, yet has never been actually implemented.

As for the question of funding, the proposal further states setting up a ‘user-fee structure’. The corporation is responsible for collecting fees from airlines, businesses, and private planes as well as jets. The rationale behind giving the ATC reins to a not-for profit corporation is to establish a corporation that can operate independent from the nation’s budget changes and away from political interventions. By converting FAA controlled ATC system into a privately-owned corporation, there are bigger chances of a more secured financial support. A not-for-profit corporation is also key to implementing various other modernization efforts in the future, prying the system away from a ‘bureaucratic inertia’ in the FAA.

Proposal Draws Support

U.S. travel and most major American airlines are all ears to the proposal. Why not? Though the proposal only makes the current system’s weaknesses stark, you’d think it’s a significant step to finally seeing a change in the air traffic control system.

In a political environment like the United States, getting enough funding for each agency like the FAA is an endless battle. Aviation is as important as any other US industry, contributing hugely to the economy. It should get enough attention. If the government is proving itself ineffectual in administering necessary technological advancements, now’s the time to take a good look at non-for-profit corporations as air traffic operators.

A modernized and commercialized ATC system is seen as the better choice to serve the major industry stakeholders efficiently- its customers. More safety precautions will be developed and established all throughout the aviation industry, because a safer and more accurate ACT system is what each citizen needs. If other advanced countries have done this, there’s no reason why US shouldn’t.

Skepticism

Along with support given to the proposal are also valid questions and concerns.

The privatization of ACT system would mean removing it from the management of Federal Aviation Authority. More to the point is that modernization will raise challenges in constitutionality and logistics, such as setting up plane-tracking stations. As privatization slowly changes the air traffic system to newer ones, the nation could also face a question of national security. If the effect of any small change in the ATC is magnified as soon as it’s implemented, what more will system modernization provide?

The proposal is still in process, with Bill Shusher saying it’s one of his highest priorities. Until we get full details of the legislation when it faces the House, we can only hope that this motion will take effect the soonest possible time when approved. Though huge adjustments will result when this is passed, the bottomline is that it will make the country’s aviation system safer, more accurate and the citizens more satisfied.